the americans: reconstruction to the 21st...

The Americans: Reconstruction to the 21st Century

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Chapter 20

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

President John F. Kennedy’s efforts to confront the Soviet Union and address social ills are cut short by his assassination. President Lyndon B. Johnson spearheads civil rights legislation and declares a “war on poverty.”

The New Frontier and the Great Society


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Chapter 20

The New Frontier and the Great Society

SECTION 1 Kennedy and the Cold War

SECTION 2 The New Frontier

SECTION 3 The Great Society


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Chapter 20

Kennedy and the Cold WarSection 1

The Kennedy administration faces some of the most dangerous Soviet confrontations in American history.


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The Televised Debate Affects Votes

• Americans fear U.S. falling behind Soviets militarily

• John F. Kennedy discusses Catholicism openly, allays public worries

• First televised presidential debate between Kennedy, Richard Nixon

• Nixon is foreign policy expert

• Kennedy coached by TV producers, comes across better than Nixon

The Election of 1960

Kennedy and the Cold WarSection 1

Kennedy and Civil Rights

• JFK takes stand on arrest of Martin Luther King, Jr; wins black vote


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Chapter 20

The Camelot Years

The Kennedy Mystique

• Kennedy wins presidency in close election

• Critics argue his smooth style lacks substance

• Kennedy White House known as Camelot for its glamour, culture, wit

• First Lady admired for her elegance; constant articles about family

Section 1


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Chapter 20

Defining a Military Strategy

• JFK believes must redefine nation’s nuclear strategy

• Flexible response—fight conventional wars, keep nuclear arms balanced

• Consumers have trouble paying off debt, cut back on spending

• JFK increases defense spending in three areas:

— strengthens conventional forces

— creates army Special Forces (Green Berets)

— triples nuclear capabilities

A New Military Policy

Section 1


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Chapter 20

The Cuban Dilemma

• Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro declares himself communist

— seizes U.S. properties; Eisenhower cuts off diplomatic

relations

• 10% of Cuban population goes into exile; mostly to U.S.

Crises over Cuba

The Bay of Pigs

• Cuban exiles, CIA plan invasion to topple Castro

• Plans go wrong; exile forces killed, taken prisoner

• JFK pays ransom in food, medicine; mission is public embarrassment

Section 1

Continued…


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Chapter 20


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Chapter 20

The Cuban Missile Crisis

• Nikita Khrushchev sends weapons to Cuba, including nuclear missiles

• JFK warns Soviets that missile attack will trigger war on U.S.S.R.

• Soviets avoid confrontation at sea; reach agreement with U.S.

Section 1

Crises over Cuba {continued}

Kennedy and Khrushchev Take the Heat

• Khrushchev’s prestige severely damaged in U.S.S.R.

• JFK criticized for brinkmanship, also for not ousting Castro

• Cuban exiles switch to GOP; Castro bans flights to and from Miami


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Chapter 20

Crisis over Berlin

Section 1

The Berlin Crisis

• By 1961 20% of Germans flee to West Berlin; economic drain on East

• Khrushchev wants to close access roads to West Berlin; JFK refuses

• Soviets isolate West Berlin from East Germany with Berlin Wall

Searching for Ways to Ease Tensions

• Khrushchev, Kennedy conscious of danger of quick decisions

• Establish hot line—direct phone between White House, Kremlin

• Limited Test Ban Treaty bans nuclear tests in atmosphere


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Chapter 20

The New FrontierSection 2

While Kennedy has trouble getting his ideas for a New Frontier passed, several goals are achieved.


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Chapter 20

Continued…

Kennedy’s Vision of Progress

• New Frontier—policies of the Kennedy administration

• JFK faces Republican-Southern Democrat coalition

• Lacks skill to get policies passed

• Also lacks mandate—clear voter support for his agenda

The Promise of Progress

The New FrontierSection 2


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Stimulating the Economy

• By 1960, U.S. in recession; 6% unemployment

• JFK administration pushes for deficit spending to stimulate growth

• Gets 20% increase for defense; money for unemployment problems

The Promise of Progress {continued}

Section 2

Addressing Poverty Abroad

• Peace Corps—volunteers assist developing nations; great success

• Alliance for Progress—economic, technical assistance to Latin America

— in part meant to deter spread of communism in Latin America

Continued…


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Chapter 20

Section-2

Race to the Moon

• April 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri A. Gagarin is first man in space

• Soon after, U.S. puts man in space, uses satellite communications

• July 1969 U.S astronaut Neil Armstrong is first man to walk on moon

• University science programs grow; new industries, technologies arise

Addressing Domestic Problems

• Michael Harrington’s The Other America brings attention to poverty

• 1963, JFK begins to work on poverty, racial injustice, civil rights

The Promise of Progress {continued}


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Chapter 20

Four Days in November

• November 22, 1963, JFK shot, killed riding in motorcade in Dallas

• Jack Ruby shoots alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald

• Vice president Lyndon Johnson succeeds JFK

Tragedy in Dallas

Unanswered Question

• Warren Commission investigates, concludes Oswald acted alone

• 1979 reinvestigation concludes Oswald part of conspiracy

Section-2


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Chapter 20

The Great SocietySection-3

The demand for reform helps create a new awareness of social problems, especially on matters of civil rights and the effects of poverty.


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From the Texas Hills to Capitol Hill

• As Congressman, Lyndon Baines Johnson mentored, helped by FDR

• 1948, LBJ narrowly wins Senate seat

LBJ’s Path to Power

Section-3

The Great Society

A Master Politician

• 1955, LBJ becomes Senate majority leader

• “LBJ treatment”—ability to persuade senators to support his bills

• Gets Civil Rights Act of 1957 passed—voting rights measure

• LBJ helps Kennedy win key Southern states in presidential election


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The War on Poverty

• 1964 tax cut spurs economic growth; lowers federal deficit

• 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination, allows enforcement

• LBJ declares “war on poverty”

• Economic Opportunity Act: education, training, small business loans

• Includes Job Corps, VISTA, Head Start, Community Action Program

Johnson’s Domestic Agenda

Section-3

Continued…


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Chapter 20

The 1964 Election

• Republicans nominate Senator Barry Goldwater

• Goldwater: government should not deal with social, economic problems

• Threatens to bomb North Vietnam, advocates intervention

• LBJ says will not send troops to Vietnam; wins by landslide

• Democrats big majority; Southern Democrats not needed to pass bills

Johnson’s Domestic Agenda {continued}

Section-3


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Chapter 20

The Great Society

• Great Society—LBJ’s legislation to end poverty, discrimination

• Johnson gets Congress to pass 206 of his bills

Building the Great Society

Section-3

Continued…

Education

• Elementary and Secondary Education Act funds school materials

Healthcare

• Medicare—low-cost medical, hospital insurance for senior citizens

• Medicaid—health insurance for welfare recipients


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Housing

• Legislation shifts political power from rural to urban areas

• Money set aside for public housing; low-, moderate-income homes

• Dept. of Housing and Urban Development created

• Robert Weaver is first African American in cabinet, HUD secretary

Section-3

Immigration

• Existing immigration quotas discriminate against non-Western Europeans

• Immigration Act of 1965 ends quotas based on nationality

Building the Great Society {continued}

Continued…


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Chapter 20

The Environment

• Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring exposes dangers of pesticides

• Water Quality Act of 1965 requires states to clean up rivers

• LBJ orders government to search out worst chemical polluters

Section-3

Consumer Protection

• Laws set standards for consumer labels, auto safety, food safety

Building the Great Society {continued}


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Chapter 20


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Chapter 20

The Warren Court

• Warren Court—Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren

• Rejects loyalty oaths, affirms free speech, church-state separation

Section-3

Congressional Reapportionment

• Reapportionment—way states redraw election districts by population

• Court rules districts must have approximately equal population

• Leads to shift in political power from rural to urban areas

Reforms of the Warren Court

Continued…


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Chapter 20

Rights of the Accused

• Warren Court rulings expand rights of people accused of crimes:

— illegally seized evidence cannot be used in court

— courts must provide legal counsel to poor

— suspect must be read rights before questioning

• Some praise protection of right to a fair trial

• Others think rulings handicap police investigations

Section-3

Reforms of the Warren Court {continued}


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Chapter 20

Social and Economic Effects

• Post-WW II, LBJ extends federal power more than all other presidents

• Poverty drops from 21% of population in 1962 to 11% in 1973

• Massive tax cut spurs economy; Great Society contributes to deficit

• Debate over finances, effectiveness of programs, government role

Section-3

Impact of the Great Society


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Chapter 20

the americans: reconstruction to the 21st...

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